The Effect of Concerts on Crime (Taylor's Version)

Past research has shown that large-scale entertainment events are associated with changes in a city's crime. However, most existing studies focus on sporting events, and their findings are largely mixed. Other types of events remain largely underexamined in this line of research. Non-sporting events may attract audiences with different demographic profiles and behavioral inclinations, which could translate to different patterns of criminal perpetration and victimization relative to sports attendees. This study examines the relationship between concerts - specifically Taylor Swift concerts - and city-level crime counts. Using data from 288 Swift concerts, negative binomial regression models compare crime counts on concert days to those on the same weekday one week prior. Results indicate statistically significant decreases in assault counts and statistically significant increases in property crime counts on concert days relative to matched-comparison days, though the magnitude of these effects are small. The findings suggest meaningful but modest effects of this non-sport event on crime.